City preps for sewer expansion

Danedri Thompson[email protected]
City officials haven’t really started examining how they’ll fund sewer and water upgrades and new roads related to the recently passed USD 231 bond issue, but it will likely include sewer rate increases and a mill levy increase, Laura Gourley, city finance director, said.
“Between now and then a lot could happen,” Gourley said. “We’re still a year away, but the assumption has always been there will be an increase, and that’s what we told council and the citizens before the bond election.”
Back in October, Gourley told city council members it would likely cost 2 mills.
“We would all assume it’s still along those lines,” she said.
However, she cautioned the increases related to the upcoming school project likely won’t hit tax bills and sewer rates until 2014. In the meantime, Gourley said, city officials are just starting to schedule very preliminary meetings for the 2013 budget.
“We’re just kind of starting the grinding stuff here,” Gourley explained. “We’re preparing the background information so we’re just getting started.”